Elevator control system



E. M. BOUTON ET AL 1,371,655

ELEVATOR CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Nov. 19 1927 Eager JSFQ n and lliomEEornes.

Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT orrice EDGAR M. BOUTON, oF'oHIoAGo, 'ILL INoIs, AND WILLIAM F. EAMES, 0F WILKINSBUBG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOBS TO wEsTINe-noUsE ELECTRIC AND MANuFAor'oniNe COMPANY, A oonronA'rIoN OF PENNSYLVANIA l ELEVATOR oo 'rRoL SYSTEM 7 Application filed November 19, 1927. Serial No. 234,425.

Our invention relates to motor-control systems and has special reference to control systems for vehicles, elevators, hoists and the like. 7

An object of our invention is to provide a control system for motor-driven machinery wherein the machinery may be selectively operated at a plurality of different normal speeds.

Another object of our invention is to provide a control system for motor-driven ma chinery wherein the machinery may be driven at one speed if the operation is to be of short duration and at another speed if the operation is to be of longer duration.

Another object of our invention is to provide a control system for elevators wherein a series of push buttons are substitutedfor the usual car switch, in order to save the space usually required for acar-switch structure.

Another object of our invention is to provide an elevator-control system wherein the speed at which the elevator will operate will be controlled through selective operation of a plurality of push buttons as a substitute for the car switch heretofore used.

In the usual present day elevator installation, the common practice is to provide a rotatable switching device on the elevator car, commonly known as a car switch, which may be operated through various positions to control selectively the direction and various speeds at which the elevator car is to operate. This structure requires considerable space in the elevator car which may be effectlvely utilized for accommodation of passengers.

We propose to substitute for the car switch, a series of five push buttons for the following purposes: low speed up, low speed down, high speed up, high speed down and stop, which may be selectively operated in accordance with the desire of the attendant to have the car travel one floor distance or more than one floor distance during a single operation;

Our invention will be described with refer-' trating our control as applied to elevator car operable between a number of floors.

Referring to the drawing, we have illustrated an elevator car C suitably suspended upon a cable Ca which passes over the hoistingdrum D to a suitable counter weight (not shown). Thehoisting drum D is directly coupled to the armature EM of a hoisting niotor EM. The motor EM is illustrated as of the separately-excited type, wherein the separately-excited field winding EMF is con-- tinuously connected to the line conductors L1 and L2. The armature EM is connected in loop circuit with the armature G of a generator G. The generator G is preferably of the compound-wound type having a series field winding GSF, a separately-excited field winding GF-and a demagnetizing field winding DF. The armature G is suitably driven by the operation of the driving motor M, the armature M of which is directly coupled to the armature G of the generator G. This motor is illustrated as being of the shuntwound type having its field winding MF and its armature M connected in parallel relation to line conductors L1 and L2.

The direction in which the elevator is to travel is controlled through the operation of an up-direction switch 1 and a down-direction switch 2, while the speed with which the elevator will travel is suitably controlled through the operation of speed relays 3, 4, 5 and 6 functioning to increase or decrease the resistance in circuit with the separately excited field winding GF of the generator G. A brake BR of the type usually used with elevatorsis illustrated as operating upon a brake drum Ed and released by energization of a release coil B0 controlled by a brake relay B.

Vie have illustrated our control system as applied to the fioor-landing elevator such as that described in the copending application of E. M. Bouton,Serial No. 731,291, filed 11) will be automatically operated asthe car approaches the several floors to cause initiation of slow down at predetermined points adjacent the floors. The final deceleration and stopping of the elevator car C is illustrated herein as being controlled through the operation of a mechanical'landing switch 13 scribed with reference to an assumed elevator operation. Assuming the elevator car to be standing at the first floor and ready to start an up trip, the attendant on the car may operate one of the push buttons HU orLU to cause the car to start upwardly. The selection of these two buttons will depend upon the expectation of the attendant to stop the car at the second floor or at one of the floors above the second floor. Assuming that, by reason of the operationof the usual signal system provided on elevators, the attendant is notified of the fact that passenger desires to board the car at the second floor, it is obvious that it would be undesirable for the elevator car to be brought up to high speed,

. since, in present day elevators, the normal highspeed of the elevator car is so great as to require a slow-down distance which is greater than the distance between two adjacent floors. It is, therefore, desirable that the car should be operated between adjacent floors at a speed less than the normal high speed.

Under the above conditions, the attendant .will operate the push button LU to start the car upwardly at low speed. The operation of this button LU completes a circuit which extends from line conductor L1 through conductor 20, the usual gate and door switches indicated by the appropriate legend gate, conductors 21, 22 and 23, the contact members of the button LU, conductor 24, the coil of the relay 25 (the purpose. of which is hereinafter described) and conductors 26 and 27 to the coil of speed relay 6, and conductors 29 and 30 to line conductor L2. The operation of relay 25 completes a circuit forthe lip-direction switch 1 which circuit extends from line conductor L1 through conductors 31 and 32, in parallel through the coils of brake releasing relay and relay F, conductor 33, normally closed interlocking contact members a on down-direction switch 2, conductor 34, the coil of Lip-direction switch 1, conductor 35, up-limit switch UL (usually provided tostop the elevator car at its uppermost. limit of travel) conductor 36, the contact members of relay 25, and conductors 37 and 38 to line conductor L2.

The operation of the up-direction switch 1 completesa circuit which energizes the separately-eXcited-fiel'd winding GF for the generator G with current in one direction,

which circuit extends from line conductor Ll through conductors 31 and 40, contact members 72 on up-direction switch 1, conductor 4 1, separately-eXcited-field winding GF on the generator G, conductor 42, resistors 43, 44, and 46, conductors 47, 48 and magnet 52 on the landing switch 13, conduc- I tors 55 and 56 to line conductor L2.

The movement of the landing switch 13 1n retiring will be in the direction of the arrow and the switch will complete circuits for the speed relays 3 and 4 through'contact members 57 and 58, respectively. The circuit for f speed relay 3 extends from line conductor L1 through conductors 31 and 60, the coil of speed relay 3, conductor 61, contact members 57 and 62 of the landing switch 13 and conductors 63 and 56 to line conductor L2 The circuit of the speed relay 4 extends from line conductor L1 through conductors 31 and 64, the coil of speed relay 4, conductor 65', contact members'58 and 62 of the landing switch 13 and conductors 63 and 56 to line conductor if The landing switch 13 also'completes a holding circuit for the up-direction switch,

which circuit extends from line conductor L1 V through conductors 31 and 32, in parallel through the coils of relays F and B, conductor 33, normally closed contact'members a of down-direction switch 2, conductor 34, the' coil of up-direction switch 1, conductor 35, up limit switch UL, conductors 36 and 66, contact members {Z of Lip-direction switch 1, conductors 67 and 68, contact members 69 and 62 of landing switch 13 and conductors 63 and 56 to line conductor L2.

The operation of speed relay 6 also excludes the resistor 43 from the circuit for the separately excited field winding GF through members'c on speed relay 6, conductors 72, 7

contact members 73 of inductor relay 9, the coil of inductor relay 9,'conductor 74, contact members e of Lip-direction switch .1, conductors 7 and 27, the coil of relay 6, conductors 29 and to line conductor L2.

The completion of this circuit, it will be Observed, causes the relay 6 to remain energized until the actuation ofrelay 9 opens its 'c'ontact'member 7 3. .The relay 9 will be actuated in response to movement of the car as it approaches the several floors by cooperation of suitable inductor platesilocated adjacent these floors. As is described in the copending application of E. M. Benton, mentioned above,- each of the inductor relays is provided with a cooperating plate made of some magnetizable material, one of these plates being provided for each ofthe floors for each relay and spacedfrom the floor level, such distance as has been determined, is required for the elevator car to decelerate from the speed controlled by the associated relay to stop the car 0 level with the floor. I have illustrated the inductor plates cooperating with relays 9, 10, 8 and 11, respectively, as elongated blocks designated respectively 7 7 7 8,7 9 and 80. It will be observed that inductor plate 77 is aligned with inductor relay 9 for cooperation with this relay as the elevator car C approaches closely adjacent the second floor when travelling in the upward direction.

' Under the assumed operating conditions, when the energized coil'of relay 9 is moved pastthe inductor plate 77, the magnetic co operation between the relay armature and the plate will cause the opening of contact members 73. The opening of the contact members 7 3 deenergizes the circuit for speed relay 6, thereby inserting the resistor 13 in the circuit for the separately excited field winding GF, and also deenergizes retiring magnet 52 for landingswitch 13 to permit roller 81 to engage the extreme left hand face of cam 82. One cam 82 is mounted at each floor traversed by elevator car C. This cam 82 is of the type a position at which" it is normally maintained y magnet 52) and therefore does not affect the operative condition of any of the controlling circuit-s until the roller 81 rides off the highest portion of this cam, at which time the contactmember 62will be moved to position III, breaking the circuit previously completed between contact members 58 and 62, causing deenergization' of speed relay 4. Speed relay 4 re-inserts resistor in the separately excited field winding circuit to 'causefurther deceleration of the motor. 7 As and the contact members 62 will assume positions indicated by I. In this position the holding circuit for the up direction switch 1 will be broken and the elevator car will be brought to a'stop.

" Since the circuit for the coil of up-direction switch 1 includes the coil of brake-releasing relay B and the coil of the demagnetizing field winding relay F, both of these relays will be deenergized. Relay F will connect the demagnetizing field winding DF across the terminals of the elevator motor armature EM to completely demagnetize the field of the generator G. Thus, the elevator car will be brought to a stop level with the second floor.

Assuming now that, after taking on a pas 'senger at the second floor, the attendant desires to travel to the fifth floor without making a stop and operates the highspeed up button HU, a circuit will be completed which extends from line conductor L1 through conductor 20, the gate switch, conductors 21, 22 and 85, contact members of push button HU, conductor 86, the coil of relay 87, conductor88, the coil of relay 5, and conductor 30 to line conductor L2. The actuation of relay 87 completes a circuit for relays 25 and 6, which circuit extends from line conductor Llthrough conductor 20, gate switch, conductors 21 and 89, contact'members b ofrelay 87, conductors and 2 1, the coil of relay 25, conductors 26 and 27 the coil of relay 6 and conductors 29 and 30 to line 0011- ductor L2.

he actuation of relay 25 efiectsthe energization of the tip-direction switch 1, and the actuation of relay 6 effects the energization of the retiring magnet 52 as well as the energization of the inductor relay coil 9, as previously described. The elevator car G will, therefore, be started in the upward direction and accelerated to the same speed as that described for the one floor run. The energization of relay 5, however, excludes, by way of its contact members a, the resistor 1 1 from the generator separately excited field Winding GF, thus causing the elevator car to oper-' ate at its highest speed. Relay 5 also closes by way of its contact member I) a circuit for energizing inductor relay 8, which extends from line conductor L1 through conductors 20, 21 and 70, contact member 6 of relay 5,

conductor 91, contact members 92 of inductor relay 8,.the coil of inductor relay 8, conductor 93, contact members f on up-direction switch 1, conductors 95 and 88, the coil of relay 5 and conductor 30 to line conductor L2. The elevator car continues on its way upwardly and passes the third and fourth floors without stopping because the energizing circuits for the relays 5 and 6 are shunted through the contact members a and b of the relay 87 and therefore the operation of the inductor relays 8 and 9 as they pass the inductor plates will not be effective to denergize the relays 5 and 6 for stopping the car, until after the relay 87 is deenergized. As the elevator car enters the zone in advance of the fifth floor in which the attendant from observation knows that it is necessary to initiate slow down in order to stop the car at the fifth floor he operates the stop button S; Theoperation of the stop button S interrupts the selfholding circuit for the, relay 87, which circuit extends from line conductor L1 through conductor 20, gate switch, conductors 21, 22 and 96, the normally closed contact members of stop switch S, conductor 97, contact members a ofrelay 87, conductor 86, coil of relay 8?, conductor 88, the coil of relay 5, the conductor 30 to line conductor L2. The consequent deenergization of relay 87 opens the circuits through contact members and Z) of that relay, which circuits shunt, respectively, inductor relays 8 and 9, thus permitting the inductor relay 8, when passing the inductor-plate 79 associated with the fifth floor, to operate to open its contact members 92. The operation of contact members 92 deenergizes relay 5 to cause re-insertion of the resistor 44 in the field winding circuit, thus reducing the elevator speed. As the car, now runningatan intermediate speed, the inductor plate 77 associated with the fifth floor for inductorreiay 9, this relay will be actuated to open its contact members 73, and the car 0 will-be thereafter decelerated and stopped level with the fifth floor,

' as described for the second-floor stop.

It will be observed, however, that the car will continue to run at its high speed past each of the floors until the stop button is operated, therefore, the operation of this stop button S corresponds to the movement of the usual car switch to the central or off position. Upon operating the stop switch S, the car will decelerate and stop at the next adj acent landing approached by the' car 0.

The operation of the elevator car in the down-directionis similar in all respects to that described for the Lip-direction, the only difference being that the low-speed down button LD will control a relay 98 in circuit with the speed relay 6 and the high-speed downbutton, HD will control a relay 99 in circuit with the speed relay 5. All other operations will be performed in exactly the same manner as that previously described for the up-dlroction, using the inductor relays 11 and 10 to perform the functions previously performed by relays 8 and 9 for the updirection.

vent the deenergizatiton of speed relay 6 and the consequent stopping of the elevator car when the inductor relay 9 passes the inductor plates associated "with floors at which it is not desired to stop;

' It will be observed, therefore, that we have devised a control wherein five push buttons may be used to perform all of the functions of the usual car switch and in which once a selection is made and'the button correspondin to the'desired mode of operation is operate the subsequent operations of the elevator will be entirely automatically controlled.

.The apparatus disclosed herein is merely illustrative and we do not desire to be limited to any of the specific'details shown, except insofar as is defined in the appended claims.

e claim as our invention: 1. In an elevator-control system, anelevator, motive means for said elevator, means for starting said motive means toc'ause said'ele-- vator to travel onlythe distance between two adjacent floors, means for-starting said motive means to cause said elevator to travel a greater distance, and means controlled by the selection of either of said starting means for determining the speed of said elevator during the consequent travel.

2. In an elevator-control system, an eleva toroperable past a plurality of floors, multispeed motive means therefor, means for controlling said motive means to cause said ele: vator to travel only from one floor to the next adjacent floor, means for controlling said motive means to cause said elevator to travel from one fioor to a remote floor, and means responsive only to operation of said last named controlling means for permitting said elevator to run at high speed.

3. In an elevator-control system, anelevator operable between a plurality of'floors,

'means for causing said elevator to start for travel from one floor to the'next adjacent floor, means for causing said elevator to start for travel to a remote floor, and means operative responsive to actuation of said first named means for causing the elevator to travelzat slow speed. V

4. In an elevator-control system, an elevator operablebetween' a plurality of floors, means for moving said elevator, means for automatically stopping said elevator at said floors, and means for starting said elevator comprising a low-speed switch and 9. hi hspeedswitch and means operable responsive to actuation of said low speed switch means,

for causing said elevator to travel at'a low speed subject to the stopping means at the next floor approached by said elevator.

5. In an elevator-control system, an elevator operable between a plurality of floors, means for moving said elevator, means for automatically stopping said elevator at said floors, and means for starting said elevator comprising a low-speed switch and a highspeed switch and means operable responsive to actuation of said low-speed switch means, for causing said elevator to travel at a low speed subject to the stopping means at the next floor approached by said elevator, and means operable responsive to actuation of said high-speed switch means, for causing said elevator to travel at a higher speed subject to none of said stopping means.

6. In a. control-system for elevators, an elevator operable past a plurality of floors, lowspeed switch means, high-speed switch means, stop-switch means, normally ineffective stopping means for stopping said elevator at each of said floors, means operated responsive to actuation of said low-speed switch means, for moving said elevator from any floor at a slow speed and for rendering effective the stopping means for the next adjacent floor, means operated responsive to actuation of said high-speed switch means, for moving said elevator from any floor at a high speed and means operable responsive to the actuation of said stop switch means, when said elevator is moving for rendering effective the stopping means at the next floor subsequently approached by said elevator.

7. In an elevator-control system, an elevator motor, means for controlling the direction and speed of movement of said motor comprising a. plurality of switch means, including an up low-speed switch, an up high-speed switch, a down low-speed switch, a down high-speed switch and j a stop switch, and means for rendering said stop switch effective to stop said elevator only when said elevator is actuated by either of said higlrspeed switches.

8. In a control system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, and motive means therefor, a plurality of starting means for said motive means, stopping means for said motive means, means responsive to operation of certain of said starting means tocause said car to start subject to operation of said stopping means at the expiration of a predetermined distance of travel, and means responsive to operation of other of said starting means to cause said car to start and to render said motive means independent of said stopping means.

9. In a control system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors and motive means therefor, a plurality of starting means for said motive means, stopping means associated with each of said floors and eifective, after operation of certain of said starting means, to cause said car to stop, and means responsive to the operation of certain other of said starting means to'render said stopping means for said floors ineffective.

10. In a control system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors and motive means therefor, a plurality of starting means for said motive means, stopping means for said motive means, means responsive to operation of certain of said starting means to cause said car to start and for rendering said motive means subject to said stopping means after said carhas traveled a predetermined distance, means responsive to operation of otheroi said starting means to cause sustained travel of said car, and means for rendering said stopping means effective to inter rapt saidsustained travel.

11. In a control system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, and motive means therefor, starting means for said motive means, means operably responsive to every operation of said starting means for causing said elevator to travel the distance between one predetermined number of floors and automatically stop, a second starting means, and means operably responsive to every operation of said second starting means for causing said elevator to trave the distance between a greater number of floors *ithout stopping.

12. In a control system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, and motive means therefor, means operable to start said motive means, means operably responsive to every operation of said starting means for causing said car to travel a predetermined distance and then stop, a second meansoperable to start said motive means, and means operably responsive to every operation of said second starting means for causing sustained travel of said car.

13. In a control system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, motive means therefor, means operable to start said motive. means, means operably responsive to every operation of said starting means for causingsaid car to move the distance between a predetermined number of floors and then stop, a second means operable to start said motive means, and means operably responsive to every operation of said second starting means for causing sustained travel of said car.

14:. In a control. system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, motive means for said elevator, means operable to start said motive means, means operably responsive to every operation of said starting means for causing said car to travel the distance between adjacent floors and then stop, a second means operable to start said motive means, and means operably responsive to every operation of said second starting means for causing sustained travel of said car.

"starting means for rendering said stopping 15. In a control system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, motive means therefor, a plurality of means each actuable to start said motive means, stopping I means for said motive means, means operably responsive to every actuation of one of said starting means for rendering said stopping means effective to stop sald car at the floor next approached, means operably responsive to every actuation of another of said means ineffective to stop said car.

16. In a control system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors and motive means therefor, a plurality of means each operable to start said motive means,

stopping means for said motive means, means operably responsive to every operation of certain of said starting means for rendering said stopping means effective to stop said car after said car has traveled a predetermined distance, means operably responsive to every operation of certain other of said starting means for rendering said stopping means ineffective to stop said car, and means operable to render said stopping means effective to stop said car, after operation of said last named starting means.

17. In a control system for an elevator car operable pasta plurality of floors, a motive means therefor, means operable to start said motive means, means operably responsive to every operation of said starting means for causing the car to travel the distance between one predetermined number of floors and then stop, a second means operable to start said motive means, means operably responsive to every operation of said second starting means for causing the car to travel a greater distance Without stopping, and means dependent upon which of said starting means is selected for determining the speed of said elevator car.

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto subscribed our names this 7th day of November, 1927, and 12th day of November, 1927, respectively.

7 EDGAR M. BOUTON.

WILLIAM F. EAMES. 

